Planning a wedding can be one of the most exciting but stressful times in your life. Your wedding is an important day for you and your partner, and your extended family and friends so it is natural to be excited about it and to want everything to go as smoothly as possible. Being prepared and organised goes a long way to helping ease your nerves in the lead up to the big day. To help you keep on top of the things you need to do, take a look at the comprehensive wedding planning checklist below.

Don't feel like you have to do all the preparation yourself though; you should always ask for help from friends and family and more often then not they will be delighted to help you organise your wedding. It is also worth considering hiring the services of a professional wedding planner. Depending on where you are getting married in New Zealand you will often work with a wedding coordinator supplied by your venue who will help you organise the set up, catering and entertainment for your big day!

One Year Prior To The Wedding

The preparations for your wedding should start as quickly as possible – it is never too early to take care of the small details. After announcing your engagement, you need to decide on the style and theme of your wedding, agree the wedding budget and decide on the date.

Right after that, you can start looking for wedding locations. If you are thinking about getting married in Wellington there are many wedding locations Wellington has to offer. Deciding on the wedding venue is one of the most important decisions in the wholes process and will normally be the most expensive thing you will be budgeting for. and because Wellington is so compact many people have their wedding in a different venue to their accommodation. Hiring your wedding venue will probably take up the majority of your wedding budget but having a special venue with high quality food, beverages and entertainment will make your day magical.

If you want to get married in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, one of the most popular wedding venues in the city is the fabulous Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. There are a number of spaces in the museum grounds to hold an indoor or outdoor wedding and the venue can be tailored to suit the number of guests and theme of your wedding. The wedding planning team at Te Papa can work with you to arrange a food, beverage and entertainment package that will suit your budget so contact them today to find out more about Te Papa - Wellington's most spectacular wedding venue.

Nine Months Prior To The Wedding

Once you have taken care of the main details, like confirming your wedding celebrant and obtaining your wedding licences, you can to a bride’s most favourite moment: picking her bridal gown and accessories. Make sure to choose the dresses for your bridesmaids, to look for a photographer and a videographer and to find the right caterer and florist. Also, after deciding on the venue, make sure to look for a decorating company that will provide all the chair covers and the accessories.

Half A Year Before The Wedding

Now is the time to estimate the number of guests and to start sending out the invitations. Find your ushers and your flower girls, purchase the wedding rings and talk to your future spouse about the honeymoon options – remember that the sooner you book the holiday, the more money you get to save. Last-minute trips are a lot more expensive!

Three To Four Months Before The Wedding

The big event is near, and now you need to take care of the final touches. Finalise the arrangements with your florists, call your videographer, photographer and wedding venue manager just to check and make sure everything is booked, arrange the wedding transport and accommodation options for out-of-town guests, and choose your wedding cake. Also, don’t forget to reconfirm the honeymoon arrangements and to choose the gifts for your parents and attendants.

Several Weeks Before The Big Event

After sending out all the invitations and meeting with the vendors for the final arrangements, all you have to do is to schedule your makeup and hair trial with your beauty consultant. Finalise the music selection, meet with your wedding official to discuss the final details and arrange for the final dress fitting.

Finding the right wedding venue can be very challenging, especially if you dream of the perfect fairytale wedding. Fortunately, you can always count on the Te Papa venues in Wellington to make your childhood dream come true – stylish, elegant and refined, the Te Papa venues are guaranteed to exceed your expectations. For further information on the available venues, packages, services and facilities, visit the official website for more information.

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